The Chicago Blackhawks have many pending unrestricted free agents (UFAs) this season. Because of this, the Blackhawks could be active as sellers if they find themselves out of a playoff spot as we get closer to the 2025 NHL trade deadline.
Among their most notable pending UFAs is forward Ilya Mikheyev. If the Blackhawks make him available this season, he would likely generate interest, as he is a solid forward who can score and kill penalties. He also just had a 20-goal and 34-point season in 2024-25.
Due to this, let's look at three teams that could target Mikheyev if the Blackhawks shop him this season.
Washington Capitals
The Capitals could be an interesting landing spot for Mikheyev if the Blackhawks shop him. He would offer them another solid option for their third line and could give them a bit more secondary offensive production if brought in.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning will likely be on the hunt for forward depth this season, as their bottom six could use a boost. As a result of this, Mikheyev could fit in nicely in their bottom six if acquired. He would also give them another option to work with on their penalty kill, which would not be a bad thing for the Bolts.
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings could also be a team to watch when it comes to Mikheyev. When looking at their roster, it is clear that they could use some help on the wing, and Mikheyev could provide them with just that if acquired.
Carolina Hurricanes - 17-9-2 - 36 Points - 5-4-1 in last 10 - 2nd in the Metro
Columbus Blue Jackets - 13-10-6 - 32 Points - 3-3-4 in the last 10 - 8th in the Metro
Blue Jackets Stats
Power Play - 18.3% - 20th in the NHL
Penalty Kill -72.2% - 29th in the NHL
Goals For - 86 - 16th in the NHL
Goals Against - 98 - 28th in the NHL
HurricanesStats
Power Play - 15.3% - 27th in the NHL
Penalty Kill - 79.0% - 23rd in the NHL
Goals For - 93 - 8th in the NHL
Goals Against - 81 - 12th in the NHL
Series History vs. TheHurricanes
Columbus is 29-30-0-5 all-time, and 13-16-0-3 on the road vs. Carolina.
The Jackets are 0-6-0 in their last six games in Lenovo Center.
The CBJ went 2-2 vs. the Canes last season.
Who To Watch For TheHurricanes
Seth Jarvis leads the Canes with 16 goals.
Sebastian Aho leads Carolina with 26 points.
Goalie Brandon Bussi is 8-1-0 with a SV% of .903. His last start was on December 6th.
Pyotr Kochetkov is 4-1-0 with a SV% of .915. His last start was on December 7th.
CBJ Player Notes vs.Hurricanes
Zach Werenski has 16 points in 31 career games against Carolina.
Kirill Marchenko has 11 points in 10 games, which includes 9 goals.
Sean Monahan has 16 points in 19 games vs. the Canes.
Injuries
Erik Gudbranson - Upper Body - Missed 21 Games - IR - No timeline for a return
Boone Jenner - Upper Body - Missed 13 Games - IR - Could return this week
Mathieu Olivier - Upper Body - Missed 6 Games - IR- No timeline for a return
TOTAL MAN GAMES LOST: 56
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In three starts, Sorokin went 3-0-0, with a 1.33 GAA and a .960 SV%, which includes a 32-save shutout against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday, a 2-0 win:
#Isles Ilya Sorokin has been named #NHL’s first star of the week:
The average annual value of $23 million is a new record for MLB relievers, Passan added.
Diaz, 31, has been one of the game’s best closers since making his first All-Star appearance in 2018. The three-time Reliever of the Year (2018, 2022, 2025) has 253 career saves, which is tied for fourth among active players.
Bullpen was the Dodgers’ biggest weakness in 2025, but the issue was solved during the postseason — largely thanks to rookie Roki Sasaki. The Japanese sensation could move back to the starting rotation in 2026 with Diaz now able to handle closing duties.
As for the Mets, the team signed reliever Devin Williams away from the New York Yankees last week. The right-hander is now expected to fill Diaz’s role as the Mets’ closer in 2026.
The former world No 1 shares how a traumatic year has shaped him as a darts player and a father and insists he can recapture his glory days at the world championship
“I can be a miserable bastard sometimes,” Michael van Gerwen says with a grin and a shrug as he tries to explain his new burst of optimism after a horribly testing year. “But I can also be quite positive. If you asked me this question a month ago, and we did this interview then, you would find me a bit different to today. But I feel good now even if, 100%, this has been a very tough year for me both on and off the oche.”
Rather than being miserable, the 36-year-old is amiable company – which seems remarkable as in 2025 he has been through a divorce after 17 years with his wife, Daphne, witnessed the devastating effect of cancer on his father, endured intense scrutiny in the Dutch media, and struggled to regain his once imperious form with the arrows.
The designated hitter is returning to the Phillies on a five-year, $150 million deal, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
The 32-year-old slugger is coming off a season that ranks among the best in franchise history. He hit .240 with a league-leading 56 home runs and 132 RBIs in 2025, posting a .928 OPS. Since joining the Phillies in 2022, Schwarber has launched 187 homers, the most in the National League during that stretch.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski called re-signing Schwarber “a priority” at the club’s end-of-season press conference, noting, “We’d love to bring Kyle Schwarber back … He’s a huge part of what we do.”
Manager Rob Thomson echoed the sentiment, praising Schwarber’s leadership and professionalism: “He brings a lot — his calmness, his experience, how he talks to younger players when they’re scuffling. He’s a huge piece in that clubhouse.”
Beyond the numbers, Schwarber has become the heartbeat of the Phillies’ lineup. His power and steady presence have helped define the club’s four consecutive postseason runs.
He’s also left an imprint off the field — his “Neighborhood Heroes” foundation continues to support first responders and military families across the Philadelphia region.
Originally signed to a four-year, $79 million contract before the 2022 season, Schwarber will remain the team’s primary designated hitter as the Phillies look to extend their playoff window into 2026 and beyond.
On the latest Sporticast episode, hosts Scott Soshnick and Eben Novy-Williams discuss some of the biggest sports business stories of the week, including the controversy surrounding the College Football Playoff selection process. The final rankings were unveiled on Sunday, and Notre Dame and Texas were among those left out. First, however, they talk about Sportico‘s …
PHILADELPHIA — Macklin Celebrini might not want to hear it, but he’s having a season for the ages.
The 19-year-old is on pace for 41 goals and 118 points. The last teenager to score that many points in a year was 19-year-old Sidney Crosby with 120 points in 2006-07.
Celebrini literally means everything to the Sharks. He has 43 points, meaning he’s been directly involved in 50.6 percent of the team’s 85 goals. Just in comparison, Nathan MacKinnon, who leads the NHL with 49 points, is credited for 42.6 percent of the league-leading Colorado Avalanche’s offense.
If Celebrini keeps this kind of involvement up, it will be literal history.
Macklin Celebrini has factored on an NHL-high 50.0% of team goals this season. Only 4 players in the modern era have been involved in more than 50.0% of team goals in a season:
But Celebrini is doing so much more than producing offense.
He’s second in the NHL with those 43 points, and according to Stathletes, he also is among the league leaders in a variety of two-way statistics.
“You see all the offensive production, how good he is there,” Alex Wennberg said. “You kind of forget how good of a job he does defensively as well.”
That’s why, in the opinion of this awards voter, if Celebrini can sustain his elite two-way play and drag the surprising Sharks into the playoffs, he would be a deserving Hart Trophy winner. As of Dec. 8, San Jose is tied for the last wild-card berth in the Western Conference.
Simply put, is there any player more valuable to his team than Celebrini?
Most stats are from Stathletes and rankings are among NHL forwards in All Situations.
Turnovers Created
Celebrini has forced 67 turnovers this season, sixth among NHL forwards. Turnovers Created are the sum of steals and pass interceptions.
Puck Deflections
Related, Celebrini has 75 Puck Deflections this season, fourth in the league. These are deflected opposition passes, suggesting that Celebrini’s stick is very active, defensively, in all three zones.
Puck Battles
Celebrini has 58 Puck Battle Wins this season, best among NHL forwards.
This might be Celebrini’s most impressive micro-stat. He’s 19, taking the puck from his often much-older peers, as if he were the veteran.
“He’s not afraid. Doesn’t matter who it is. Ultra-competitiveness is probably the best word for that. He wants to win the puck like it’s life or death,” head coach Ryan Warsofsky said, also noting that Celebrini added some size over the summer. “I know that’s a very drastic and dramatic comment, but the great players in every sport [do it]. Tom Brady wanted the ball in his hand. Steph Curry wants the ball in his hand [and is going] to do whatever he can to get it back. I think [that’s] what make great players great.”
“His competitiveness and his full compete is just different from the rest of us,” Wennberg admitted.
There’s a reason why, no less, than Brad Marchand called Celebrini “a dog” because of his compete.
Recoveries
Celebrini has 495 puck recoveries this season, fifth among NHL forwards. Recoveries are loose puck and shot recoveries.
That’s a testament to Celebrini’s quickness and ability to read where the puck is going.
Closer Carries
Celebrini has 511 Closer Carries, ninth in the league. Closer Carries are carries that bring the puck closer to the net.
Successful Zone Entries
Celebrini has 186 Successful Zone Entries, tied with Kirill Kaprizov for sixth in the NHL.
These puck-carrying stats mirror those of the most puck-dominant superstars in the league, your MacKinnon and Connor McDavids.
Penalties Drawn
Celebrini leads all forwards, per Evolving Hockey, with 19 Penalties Drawn and is tied for the lead with a +9 Penalty Differential.
Slot Passes
Celebrini has 71 Slot Passes and 21 Inner Slot Passes, both seventh in the league.
Assisted Chances
Related, Celebrini has 55 Assisted Chances, ninth among NHL forwards. Assisted Chances are passes that lead directly to scoring chances.
Total Chances
Celebrini has 113 Total Scoring Chances, eighth in the league. That’s a combination of shooting and assisted chances.
So shoot, pass, carry, battle, and defend, what can’t Celebrini do?
In baseball, the five-tool player is the ideal, someone who can hit for contact and power, and has speed, a strong arm, and a good glove.
A hockey comp might be a six-tool player who can skate, shoot, pass, stickhandle, is physical, and has hockey IQ at an elite level.
That already appears to be Celebrini, at just 19, in the best league in the world.
Granted, we’re just 30 games into the season, but MVP isn’t a stretch.
“He does everything in all three zones. He’s in on half our points. He plays hard in the D-zone. He plays big minutes. He plays against top lines. He’s a key part of the power play. He’s becoming a leader in the room,” Ryan Reaves said. “He’s doing everything that you want. He’s getting better every day. So I think he’s got a strong case.”
“He’s done a really good job of not letting all the outside noise affect his game, for the most part,” Warsofsky said. “He deserves to be in that conversation, but we got a long way to go.”
ORLANDO — Before a teamwide slump led to a trade deadline sale, the Giants were quietly looking at potentially adding help at second base. Months later, they announced that incumbent Casey Schmitt underwent left wrist surgery, but president of baseball operations Buster Posey doesn’t sound like he feels adding at that position is still necessary.
The Giants anticipate Schmitt being only about a week to 10 days behind at the start of camp, and they also have plenty of faith in Christian Koss. Tyler Fitzgerald, who entered last season as the starter, also still is on the 40-man roster.
“We feel really good about the strides that Casey made last year, and I think Koss, too, had some big moments for us and for me is a guy that’s just kind of an all-around baseball player and can impact the game in multiple ways,” Posey said. “We’re very optimistic with both of those guys having a solid year under their belt and we know that there’s room for growth. I’ll just leave it at that.”
There are multiple potential options on the trade market, including St. Louis’ Brendan Donovan and Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe. But the Giants also have more pressing needs, particularly in their rotation and at the back end of their bullpen. They also could use more help in the outfield.
Schmitt entered last season in a utility role off the bench and even learned first base as a way to get on the field. He finished the year with 12 homers and a wRC+ of 98, putting him roughly at league-average as a hitter. At the end of the season, Schmitt said he planned to drop some weight this offseason to allow him to cover more ground at second base.
General manager Zack Minasian described the injury as a form of carpal tunnel that needed to be operated on, but there are no long-term concerns.
“We don’t think he’ll be slowed during spring training at all. He should be fine,” Minasian said on Tuesday’s “Giants Talk” podcast. “I thought Casey made a lot of positive strides last year: At-bat quality, learning a new position, there’s still some upside there, and I’m excited to see what he can do going forward.”
The Marco Move
One player who won’t be involved in that outfield competition is Marco Luciano. The former top prospect was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates last week, with the Giants getting nothing in return for a 24-year-old who once looked like a future star in San Francisco, or at least the centerpiece of a blockbuster trade.
Internally, the Giants have in recent months revisited Luciano’s development path to see what they might have done differently. The main takeaway is not surprising: They know they should have moved him off of shortstop years ago, allowing him to play an easier position and focus on his development at the plate.
“I don’t think it went how anyone would have hoped it would have gone,” Minasian said. “I think you replay some of what position he should have been at and things of that nature. For me, personally, I saw Luci as a 15-year-old in the Dominican, and as much as we talk about the position, there’s still a tremendous amount of bat upside there.
“It’s tough to walk away from someone with that type of ability. It just hadn’t shown up to this point and we’re limited in our roster spots and unfortunately it was the route we had to go.”
For all of the attention that was paid to his defensive struggles, Luciano also had an OPS below .600 in his big-league appearances. In Triple-A last year, he hit 23 homers but struck out 170 times and posted a .749 OPS in a hitter-friendly league.
Minasian said the timing of the move was “just to create roster space.” If the Giants do not sign someone or complete a trade by Wednesday, they’ll have an open roster spot heading into the Rule 5 Draft.
Congrats, Chis!
Giants VP of media relations Matt Chisholm received the Robert O. Fishel Award during a reception on Monday night in Orlando. The award honors excellence in public relations, and Chisholm became the second Giants employee to win it, joining his former boss, Staci Slaughter.
Chisholm, a Northern California native who graduated from Sonoma State, first joined the Giants as an intern in 2004. He worked for the Colorado Rockies for three seasons before returning to his hometown team. Last season was his 18th overall with the organization.
The ceremony was attended by just about every Giants employee who made the trip to Orlando, including Posey, Minasian, manager Tony Vitello and Bruce Bochy, who worked closely with Chisholm during the title years. Posey gave a speech honoring Chisholm and presented him with a trophy.
McLaren were the obvious choice for team of the year but Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari were a big disappointment while Williams exceeded expectations
Lando Norris had gone into the season as favourite and he emerged on top after a gruelling contest. Securing his maiden world drivers’ title was no easy feat given how hard he had been pushed by his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Closing it out was testament to a driver who maintained his nerve and confidence even as at times it seemed the title had slipped from his reach.
Six-time NBA All-Star Jimmy Butler wants nothing but to see his up-and-coming Warriors teammate Jonathan Kuminga succeed.
Butler shared why helping Kuminga is so important to him in the latest edition of NBC Sports Bay Area’s “Dub Talk” with Monte Poole and Raj Mathai, adding that the 23-year-old swingman is better than he was at that age.
“Oh my God … No. He [is] way better than I was at the age he is,” Butler told Poole and Mathai. “The upside, the ceiling, it’s all of that. Now, what I will say is that I’ve been in his position — as in like starting [and] not starting, just got a deal … But he wants to be great. So, he’s asking all the right questions. He’s saying what he sees. ‘Yo, I need to learn how to do this?’ That’s all you can ask from anybody. Nobody has all the answers; I don’t. Steph [Curry] might, actually …
“So, besides Steph, nobody has all the answers, and [Kuminga’s] asking all these questions because, once again, he wants to do right — whatever you ask him to do. You want him to play the five? You think JK wants to play the damn five? No. But … he’s going to ask, ‘How could I play the five, be effective, win my minutes and help us win?’ And that’s who JK is. And it’s my job to help as often as I can.”
There aren’t many, if any, better situations for a young player like Kuminga to develop in than the Warriors; at minimum, he gets to watch and learn from Curry, Butler and Draymond Green.
However, Butler’s journey to NBA stardom was anything but linear, making him the ideal mentor for Kuminga.
Butler understands the bumps in the road that Kuminga might — or already has — come across, and, as he explained to Poole and Mathai, will have the youngster’s back regardless.
